I've recently moved to Northern Ontario and I'm thinking about getting an atv. Problem is I've never rode one before and I'm not sure what to look for. I've got a friend who has one who's going to let me ride it around a bit to see if it's for me, but I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be getting one unless I screw up royally the first time out and never want to touch one again. I just wanted to come here to get some advice as well, it'll be used for trail riding and some hunting in the future once I get into that as well, so I'm looking at a utility, probably in the 400 to 600 range. I know how to work within my limits so I'm thinking maybe I should just go all out and get a bigger one right off the bat, or is that a terrible idea?

 

My old man has a Polaris Sportsman 600, depending on what kind of hunting you do this quad could even be a bit big just for in the bush situations. It has a lot of power but needs more room for making turns and such. Friends have the grizzlys I think, 450 cc's but they seem to always have problems when they get a bit wet with stuttering and stalling out. They are easier to maneuver in the bush and also ride a little lower so it is easier to duck under fallen trees over paths. Thats about all I can give you for info now.

 

Get what fits you size-wise. A bigger displacement machine will fit a bigger rider.

I've got a honda 300cc sport quad and, being 6'1, I feel a little big on it. I fit my boss's Kawasaki Brute Force 650 perfectly. Find what fits you.

My biggest piece of advise is don't push it too hard to start with. Get familiar with how hard the brakes grab in both the front and rear. Speed comes with time.

 

FWIW, I hate them, and would recommend if you want to ride off road, get a bike. ymmv.

 

Riding....is a lost artform.

Its an application of.....Zen

trust me.

 

I've got a polaris Xplorer 400, a Honda Rancher 420 and a just got a great deal on a Yamaha Rhino 660. I ride with my family, hence the Rhino which I plan to put back seats in. I do a lot of trail riding and what I have found is that as you go up in displacement, the bikes tend to get wider. In Washington and Oregon, I found that my Honda fits the trails the best. The larger displacement bikes tend to be so wide that the wheels don't fit in the ruts of established trails resulting in a lot of side to side motion. Also, if you get into dense brush/trees, the larger bikes can't turn as sharp or fit between as many trees. Things to consider.

The best advice I would give, is find the size that fits you and that you are comfortable with. Large Polaris ATVs, 300cc and bigger, only have one brake lever that controls all of the brakes where all of the other manufacturers have seperate brake levers for front and rear brakes. I would opt for independent rear suspension for a smoother ride and a fuel injected ATV. I have some friends that I ride with who have back problems, and the independent suspension makes a big difference to them.

I like my Honda, but my Polaris has a much nicer ride to it. I would recommend you stay with a utility type ATV as well based on how you indicated you plan to use it.

my 2cents

 

I realize this is an older thread, but here's some advice that I have found to be painfully true. Find your best local dealer and ride what he sells. I've got a Yamaha and my wife has a Honda because the dealer we frequent has the best service. My brother bought a Polaris for his son and the local dealer is worthless. A week before the warranty expired, a wiring problem cropped up on the Polaris. A call to the Polaris dealer (not the first one) and he said he couldn't get it in for a month. When we asked if it would still be covered under warranty, he just laughed and said if it expired in a week and he couldn't get it in for a month, then no, it was our problem. Choose your dealer carefully.

 

Sandman brings up a very good point. The quality of the ATV itself is only part of the equation, you will want good service as well, so choose a reputable dealership.

 

get it and Putz around on it for awhile.

On a side note i know a fully built race quad that might for sale LOL jK you don't want it.

 

Let me tell you the absolute best advice about first time riders.

This is the most important piece of advice you will ever hear.

Are you ready!?

CAN YOU HANDLE IT!?


Don't crash.

That $&*% hurts.

Trust me.

 

And it's not avoidable forever.

There's only 2 kinds of riders...

Those that have crashed, and those that will crash.

 

ATGATT = All The Gear All The Time. Never ride without your helmet and other safety gear. Even if you're 'just taking it for a quick ride'

Also, try to avoid the jumping Chollas

 

As I recall from my desert and Baja riding experiences, you are supposed to ride AROUND those things.....OUCH!!!

 

That hurts just to LOOK at!

 

Ya, that looks pretty painful; glad I don't live anywhere near the desert.

Thanks for all of the helpful advice guys, I've decided to hold off on the quad for now though, I've been very busy with this new job and wouldn't have time to ride. We've also got about 2 feet of snow on the ground so a sled looks more useful than a quad. I may end up relocating again in the next few months so I'm going to save for a new truck until I know how things are going to pan out.

Thanks again everyone